Apparatus for recovery of juice from sucrose bearing materials



April 23, 1963 A. w. FRENCH 3,086,452

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF JUICE FROM SUCROSE BEARING MATERIALS Filed July 9. 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE NTOR ALFRED W. FRENCH ATTORNEYS FIG-6 April 23, 1963 A w. FRENCH 2 APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF JUICE FROM SUCROSE BEARING MATERIALS Filed July 9. 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS April 23, 1963 A w. FRENCH 3,086,452

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF JUICE FROM SUCROSE BEARING MATERIALS ATTORNEYS April 23, 1963 A. W. FRENCH APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF JUICE FROM SUCROSE BEARING MATERIALS Filed July 9. 1957 I86 /7 S2 19/ I86 I was FIG *7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ALFRED W. FRENCH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,086,452 APPARATUS FOR RECOVERY OF .lUICE FRDM SUCRGSE BEARING MATERIALS Alfred W. French, Piqua, Ohio, assignor to The French Oil Miil Machinery Company, Piqua, Ohio, 21 corporation of Ohio Filed July 9, 1957, Ser. No. 670,743 2 Claims. (Q1. 100-75) A primary object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for expressing juice from sugar cane in which a high percentage of the cane juice is expressed from the cane through the substantially continuous application of high mechanical pressure, and in which the bagasse fiber is discharged with a low retained moisture content.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for expressing juice from sugar cane in which the cane is defibered and the fibers mixed under sustained pressure to contribute to further expression of juice.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for expressing juice from sugar cane in which the cane is friotionallly heated during its movement through the expressing apparatus while under a high mechanical pressure to promote further removal of the juice from the cells.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for recovering high percentage of the sucrose content of sugar cane through the use of a maceration fluid intermediate expressing stages.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of apparatus used to carry out the present process;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of that portion of the apparatus which is used toprepare the cane for its primary juice expressing operation;

FIG. 3 is an in part sectional and in part full side elevation of a press used in conjunction with the cane preparing means of FIG. 2 to express juice from sugar cane;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevatio-nal view showing shredding means for cutting raw cane to suitable lengths;

FIG. 5 shows schematically the application of crushing rolls to prepare raw cane for entry into the expressing apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional vie-w taken substantially along the line 6-6 of PEG. 3 and showing the screen bar cage structure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation of a roll type expressing mill with an interrupted flight screw press positioned at the discharge end to receive bagasse and express additional fluid therefrom;

FIG. '8 is a schematic side elevation of two interrupted flight screw type expressing presses arranged in series with maceration fluid added between two presses; and

FIG. '9 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary showing a modification of the restricting orifice of FIG. 3 with a manifold for adding maceration fluid to the fibrous ma terial as it passes through the orifice.

Successful commercial recovery of the sucrose found in sugar cane juice depends upon expression of the cane juice from the cane within the reasonably limited period of time when the percentage of sucrose present is at a maximum. Sugar cane, in some cases, decreases in sucrose content if permitted to stand in the field and overripen. On the other hand, if the cane is cut and not processed within a short time the sucrose content will further decrease due to partial inversion thereof. Thus, due to the critical nature of the time period within which ice the cane must be worked to obtain the maximum sucrose recovery, cane mills are normally constructed to handle relatively large quantities of raw cane within a short period of time. Naturally any time the mill is forced to shut down to make repairs because of mechanical failures, valuable sucrose may be lost and the recovery operation become less eflicient.

Present sugar cane processing factories, utilizing rollertype mills to effect crushing of the cane to express the juice therefrom, normally use sizeable quantities of maceration water intermediate successive crushing stages to achieve eflicient recovery of the sucrose content.

The present invention, in many instances, makes possible the recovery of sucrose percentages approximately equivalent to those now obtained without the use of maceration or lixiviating liquids, as well as reducing the chances of sucrose loss occurring from interrupted mill operations in factories where one piece of machinery depends upon another. The present process and apparatus are also capable of utilizing maceration fluids in those instances Where it is either desired or preferred. Since the present apparatus effects expression of the juice independently of any other apparatus, when a plurality of such devices are used they may be arranged to operate in parallel to handle the entire amount of cane being processed by the mill and the breakdown of one piece of apparatus will in no way affect the independent functioning of those remaining.

While the present invent-ion will be hereinafter described with particular reference to the treatment of sugar cane, it also provides substantial advantages in handling other sucrose bearing fibrous material such as, for example, sugar beets and sorghum. Related apparatus and method for specific application in recovering increased quantities of sucrose from sugar cane, and more particularly from the trash or cush-cush fibers formed during the pressing operation, and otherwise improving the efiiciency of existing extraction processes are described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 670,742 (now Patent No. 3,037,445) filed of even date herewith and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of apparatus for effectuating the present process, a generally horizontally disposed conveyor 10 (FIG. 1), driven by a motor 11, is provided for transportation of raw cane 12 into a cane chopper 15 where a feeding conveyor belt 16 can advance it into a rotary cutting mechanism 17 having a plurality of cutting blades 18 arranged around the periphery thereof. An upwardly inclined conveyor 19 positioned below blades 18 receives the chopped cane and dumps it into a coneshaped hopper 20 which is protected by a cone cover 21. Conveyors 16 and 19 are driven by the motor 22 illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, while cutting mechanism 17 is driven by motor 23.

Frame Work 25 provides support for hopper 20 and also for a driving motor 26 which has its pulley 27 (FIG. 2) connected to the input shaft 28 of a gear box 30 by means of a belt 31. The output shaft 32 (FIG. 2) of the gear box is operatively joined to the shaft 33 of a screw conveyor 35 through the connecting spline 36. The upper portion of shaft 33 carries a continuous feeding vane 37 to move cane from hopper 20, while that portion of shaft 33 extending beyond the lower limit of hopper 20 carries a series of interrupted feeding vane flights 40 which have spaces 41 between the adjacent ends of successive flights.

A vertically disposed expression cage 45 surrounds the interrupted vane flights 40 of screw conveyor 35 and includes a plurality of vertically disposed, radially spaced 3 screen bars 46 (FIG. 2), which are held in place by wedge bars 47, the wedge bars being adjustably secured to cage 45 by threaded fasteners 48. Screen bars 46 are spaced slightly apart to define fluid drainage openings between adjacent bars so that expressed juice can flow outwardly away from an expression chamber 51 formed by the bars. Extending through the screen bars 46 into the chamber 51 are a number of breaker bars 55 which are adjustably secured to force feed cage 45, through 4 a holding strip 106 through adjustable fasteners 197. Screws 108 are then used to mount the holding strip 106 to the cage proper.

At the termination of preliminary expression zone 101 there is an inlet opening to a main expression chamber 110. A plurality of screen bar sections 115, 116, 117 and 118 make up an expression cage 120, and the aforementioned alternately arranged screw flights and pressure collars are located inwardly thereof. The areas holding strip 56, as by bolts 57. The adjustable fasteners between the collars and the expression cage 120 define 53 on the outer ends or" the breaker bars provide means zones 121 where primarily compacting and expression for adjusting them radially into or out of the chamber 51 occur while the areas between the worm flights and the within the vertical spaces 41 between interrupted vanes cage 120 define zones 122 where primarily defibering to stop rotary movement of the cane in the chamber Occurs. Expression cage 120 includes screen bars 125 and cause it to move axially downwardly therethrough. 15 with drainage openings obtainable by means of spacers Expression cage is enclosed within an imperforate 123 between them and breaker bars 126, which have a wall which receives the expressed juice and directs it plurality of longitudinally and radially extending lugs downwardly into a collecting trough 61 adjacent the lower 127 terminating just short of the outer surface of presend of the cage structure where the juice can be withsure collars 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 and discharge cone 96 drawn through outlet valve 62 to any suitable collection 20 to cause primary longitudinal movement of cane over receptacle. these collars without the presence of excessive rotary A ring-like split cone 65, positioned adjacent the lower moti n. Reinforcing structure 136 is present to end of expression cage 45, has a tapered inner surface strengthen the screen bar sections since large radial forces defining a restricting orifice 66 of less diameter than the are erted against them when the press is operating. diameter of chamber 51. A clamping ring 67 of slightly g5 Satisfactory results have been obtained, reducing the greater height than split ring surrounds the split ring moisture content of sugar cane to as low as 30%, with to hold it together and in operating position. Beneath a Press aving a cage inner diameter of 8 /2 inches and restricting orifice 66 a vertically extending wall 70 de having case hardened steel pressure collars and screw fines a further chamber 71, of greater diameter than the flights of the following dimensions. Screw flights and presorifice, where the cane is permitted to expand as it drops 30 sure collars 92-95 inclusive have been omitted in this into press inlet chamber 72 (FIG. 3). Such collar arexample.

Table 1 Screw Flights and Pressure 001- lars 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 96 Diameters in inches 6%6 5%0-65 6 /4 ("A-6% 6% (NA-7% 6 /1 (BIA-73A Length in inches 4% 49s 4% 4% alt 3% 4% 10% rangement is described and claimed in more detail in co- Higher pressures can be obtained by either using longer pending application Serial No. 645,165, filed March 11, collars or collars and worms of larger diameters should 1957, and assigned to the same assignee as the present such higher pressure be needed or preferred. application. The metals from which the press components are con- A suitable drive motor 74, part of which is shown in 45 structed are also significant when determining the dimen- FIG. 1, is mounted on a gear housing 75. Housing 75, sions of the components which can be used to obtain satiscontaining a pair of driven gears 76 and 77 (FIG. 3), is factory results. For example, a Stellite coating will demounted adjacent the wall 70, with gear 76 operably concrease the friction between these parts and the cane matenected through a driving sleeve 78 to a longitudinally ex rial and thereby make changes in press dimensions adtending shaft 80, as by spline connection 81, and gear 50 visable, if the most efficient operating forces are to be 77 operably connected through a sleeve 82 and dog 83 obtained. Stellite is a series of alloys comprising cobaltto a feed screw 84 which surrounds a portion of shaft chromium-tungsten which are manufactured by Union and extends longitudinally through inlet chamber 72. Carbide & Carbon Company. A press using Stellite, omit- Gears 76 and 77 are driven through a suitable connecting screw flight 85 and pressure collar 86, could have the tion with motor 74, with gear 77 preferably being op- 55 remaining pressure collars and screw flights dimensioned erable at a higher speed than gear 76 so that feed screw as shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Screw Flights and Pressure 001- lars 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 Diameters in inches 5M6 NAG-6% 514a Sits-6% 6% old-7% 6% tilt-7V4 6 /4 (SM-7% Length in inches 4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3A 4% 3% 4% 5% 84 may be rotated faster than shaft 80. Following feed screw 84 a plurality of alternately arranged screw flights 85, 87, 89, 91, 93 and 95 and pressure collars 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 and a final discharge collar 96 are all keyed or otherwise suitably attached to the shaft 80 for rotation therewith. F A preliminary expression cage 10f) begins at vertically extending wall 70 and surrounds a portion of feed Worm 84 and screw flight 85 to define a preliminary expression zone 101. Cage 100 includes push through-type breaker bars 105, the breaker bars being adjustably secured to 7 The end structure surrounding the remainder of shaft 80 beyond discharge cone 96 includes a cylinder 136 which controls the size of the outlet opening 140.

To collect juice as it is expressed from the cane in the preliminary and main expression zones 101 and 110, respectively, the press has a hollow supporting base which defines a juice collecting chamber 146. As the juice is extracted through the expressing cage structure it drops to chamber 146 and flows through outlet opening 147 to a place of collection.

In certain instances it may be preferred that the raw cane be reduced in size by other means than chopper 15. One such means is the shredding apparatus 150 shown in FIG. 4, where raw cane is cut by shredding members 151 carried on a rotatable member 152. As cane is fed into shredder 150 it is cut by members 151, forced through the grid formed' by bars 153 and reduced to a somewhat finer physical condition than is the case in the chopper-type cutter. After the cane passes bars 153 it falls into conveyor 155 which moves it into the hopper 20 for subsequent treatment.

A second cane cutting arrangement is provided by the crushing rolls 160 shown schematically in FIG. 5, which have a plurality of teeth 166 that crush or tear the cane into the desired sizes as it is passed between them toward hopper 20.

FIG. 9- illustrates another manner in which Sucrose bearing fibrous'rnaterial can be subjected to serial compacting operations with the addition of maceration fluid between the expressing steps. Specifically, screw press arrangement 170, which is analogous to the feeding arr angement utilizing cage '45 of FIG. 2, a ring-like split cone 171 and clamping ring 172 which serve the same function as their counter parts of FIG. 2. In this case however a fluid injection manifold 173 is positioned beneath members 171 and 172. to supply fluid to the sucrose bearing material as it passes beyond the restricted opening defined by ring 171. In this manner the cane is subjected to free moisture at a time when it is expanding, and free of any large restraining pressure so that it can readily absorb moisture.

Generally the present process for expressing juice from sugar cane comprises feeding raw cane 12 into cutting means 15 where it is reduced in size by chopping, shredding or crushing, depending upon the form of cutting apparatus used, and fed by conveyor 19 into the cane hopper 20. A series of revolving cane knives, for example, mounted to cut or chop the cane as it moves on the conveying means is a good method for reducing the size of the raw cane. Once within hopper 20 the cane feeds downwardly through the action of feed worm 35 into the vertically arranged expression cage 45. As the screw attempts to advance the cane through restricting orifice 66, a back pressure is built up in the cane within the cage. The mechanical pressure thus exerted agalnst the cane causes a rupturing of the juice containing cells contained in the sugar cane fibers with a consequent initial expression of juice through the spacings between cage bars 46. I After passing through restricting orifice 66 the partially expressed cane material can either be treated with a maceration fluid from manifold 173 as it is expanding and extremely receptive to absorption of the fluid or, if the manifold is not used, can continue through further chamber 71 where the pressure is released and the material allowed to expand to substantially its original size without the addition of fluid. After chamber 71 the material enters press inlet chamber 72 where feed worm 84 moves it longitudinally toward the press inlet. Since feed worm 84 is driven by gear 76 at a higher rate of speed than the press screw flights are driven by gear 77 the cane is once again compacted, this time in the area defined by preliminary expression cage 100. This second compacting achieves a secondary expression of juice from the cane, the juice flowing outwardly through the cage to chamher 145.

The first screw flight 85 takes the compacted cane from cage 100 and moves it inwardly toward pressure collar 86 in a generally helical path which creates a defibering action under pressure with mixing of the fibers to achieve a reorientation of the cellular structure. Reorientation contributes to further'expression of juice as the cane is forced over the collar 86, Where a crushing or expressing action occurs. Screw flight 87 operates in much the same manner as screw flight 85 in that it takes compacted material from an expressing zone, viz., that zone between collar 86 and screen bar section 115, and defibers and mixes the fibers while moving them outward toward collar 88. The worms and collars following worm 87 and collar 88 operate on the cane in the same manner except that the increased body diameters of worm 95 and discharge cone 96 cause a greater packing of the cane at the outlet end of the press.

Using a press of the dimensions set forth in Table 1, it has been found that sugar cane having an inherent moisture content of 85% yielded approximately 89.7% of its moisture content in the preliminary expression cage llllll of the main expression cage 120. Thus, the bagasse had a final moisture content of about 32% with a sucrose content of 5.51%. In a second test using the same press, cane having the same inherent moisture content gave a recovery of 93.1% of the juice with a final sucrose content of 3.89% and a moisture content of 30.0%.

Thus, in passing through the press the cane material will be subjected to intermittently varying pressures by virtue of the fact that the maximum diameters of the compacting collars are greater than the maximum diameters of the screw flight bodies. This feature results in a partial relaxation of pressure while still maintaining con tinuous expressing pressure as the material clears the rearmost edge of each of said collars. While the precise conditions developed in the expression cage are not fully understood, largely because of the practical difiiculties of accurately determining the pressure and other conditions at a series of points throughout the cage, it is believed that the action may be described generally along the following lines. As the pieces of cane are fed forwardly by the flights on the feed worm portion, they are packed into the first screw flight portion and because of the difference in the rate at which such flights are driven, a substantial pressure is developed on the cane in such first flight. This is accompanied by expression of juice through the screen bars and additional pressure is built up as the material passes over the first collar, and its rotation is interrupted by the breaker bars. This is accompanied also by a mechanical action which results in some defibering and reorientation, with the result that further juice is extracted and the fibers are advanced to the next flight which they encounter with a different distribution.

As the material continues its passage through the cage, it encounters successive interrupted flights alternating with the series of collars and breaker bars so that such crushing, defibering and reorienting occur successively. It will further be noted that the clearance on the last flight between the body of the flight and the inner periphery of the cage is less than that of the other flights, thus resulting in an increased pressure when the material reaches the discharge end. This not only contributes to a higher effective yield but also assures the more thorough working of the material to express the maximum amount of juice.

therefrom before it is finally discharged.

Since the mean pressure exerted on the cane material is between the pressure created by the screw flights and the pressure created by the pressure collars it is apparent that pressures below the mean pressure are used while the material is being mixed and defibered and pressures above the mean pressure are used when compacting the material to express the juice therefrom. Additionally, the mean pressure is ascendant because of the increased pressures created toward the outlet end of the press.

Although the forces against the material during its passage through the press are intermittently varying, it should be noted that the mean pressure is quite high, probably being in excess of 5,000 p.s.i., so that the pressure against the material is at all times on a high level. Maintenance of the pressure at a high level while it moves longitudinally through the press results in creation of frictional heat which materially raises the temperature of the cane and softens the walls of the parenchyma cells and fibrovascular bundles aiding the expression of juice from the cane. For example, the juice toward the discharge end of the press is at about a boiling temperature and the discharged bagasse at about 180 F., the temperature of the bagasse probably being greater while in the press and cooling somewhat upon release due to expansion.

As the cane progresses through the press the juice is expressed in the compacting zones and falls into collecting chamber 146 from whence it is collected in a suitable storage receptacle. Expressed cane bagasse is discharged through outlet opening 140 into collection means separate from the juice collecting means so that no reabsorption of the juice can occur after the pressure is relaxed.

FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates an apparatus 175, comprising a roller type mill 176 and a screw type expressing press 177, for removing the juice from sugar cane and related sucrose bearing fibrous material.

A conveyor 1813 delivers raw cane 181 to opposed crushing rolls 182 which have serrated or otherwise suitably formed working surfaces to break the cane and deliver it onto a second conveyor 183 with 40% to 70% of the original juice content removed. The juice taken from the cane at this point can be collected in a receptacle 185 for subsequent handling or it can be combined with juice extracted in later operations. The second conveyor, 183, is positioned to discharge the crushed cane into the nip of the mill rolls 186 of the mill 176. From mill 176 the cane passes through the rolls of mills 198 and 192 by means of conveyors 191 and 193 and is finally delivered onto a discharge conveyor 1% as bagasse having from about 85 to 95% of its sucrose content removed. Fluid expressed from the cane during its passage through the mills is collected within a tank 195 and from there directed to a suitable point of collection. The recovery of such high percentages of sucrose is made possible by the addition of a suitable maceration liquid, such as water, to the cane through fluid conducting pipes 200 prior to its delivery to mills 190 and 192. Fluid can be obtained from a tank 201 which is under pressure from pump 202, the tank being supplied with fluid through an inlet pipe 203.

The bagasse being discharged from mill 192 onto conveyor 194 is dumped into the feed hopper 205 of screw press 177 where it can be supplied with maceration fluid by means of a pipe 206 in those instances where preferred. Pipe 296 extends from the supply tank 281 to the hopper 205. From hopper 205 the material moves downwardly into the interior of the press where it undergoes the same physical defibering and expressing treatment previously described in connection with the screw press shown in FIG. 3.

The screw flight and pressure collar dimensions used in the press when running bagasse may vary from the dimensions set forth in Tables 1 and 2, exemplary dimensions being set forth in the following Table 3.

2.78% but adding 500 pounds per hour of maceration water to the material as it entered hopper 205 resulted in a bagasse discharge from screw press 177 having a moisture content of 37.0% and a sucrose content of 2.12%. The addition of this amount of water raised the moisture content of the bagasse to approximately prior to the final expressing and defibering operation which occurs in the screw press.

A slightly modified form of apparatus for subjecting sucrose bearing materials to expressing operations with the addition of maceration fluid between the two operations is shown in FIG. 8. Here, two interrupted flight screw presses, 211i and 211, are arranged in series so that the discharge opening 212 of press 210 will deliver bagasse into the hopper 213 of the second press. A fluid reservoir 215, having a pump 216, is provided with a pipe 217 for supplying maceration fluid to bagasse just as it is expanding upon leaving press 210, thus insuring that the bagasse will quickly soak up a maximum amount of maceration fluid.

While the process and form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to this precise process and form of apparatus and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing at least 80-85% of the juice from sucrose bearing cellular fibrous material such as sugar cane comprising the combination of means for reducing the cane to desired lengths, a first elongated expression cage having inlet and outlet openings and a through passage therebetween and drainage opening in the walls of said cage, said inlet opening being positioned to receive the raw cane from said reducing means, means providing a restricting orifice at said outlet opening, an interrupted-flight feed screw extending into said first cage and having means for rotation thereof to force the cane under mechanical pressure through said orifice to express an initial quantity of juice from the cane for discharge through said drainage openings in said first cage, a main expression cage having an inlet and an outlet and having drainage openings in the walls thereof, a closed expansion chamber connecting said main cage inlet to said outlet of said first cage for receiving the cane forced through said orifice, means connected to introduce maceration liquid into said chamber for absorption by the cane where the mechanical pressure thereon is relatively relaxed, a feed screw member extending ad- Table 3 S c Fl hts and Pressure C01- Diameters in inches 5 is 5 46-614 5 46 FAG-6% 5M0 S'Me-Gl %0-6% 5%; 5%G 6 6 /1 6% Length in inches sis 2% 4% 4% 4% 4% es 314 4% an or 5 In tests conducted at a feed rate of 2 /2 tons of cane per hour, without the addition of maceration water between the mill 176 and the press 177, the mill discharged bagasse having a moisture content of 48.75% and a sucrose content of 2.78%. By then running this bagasse through hopper 205 and press 177, the press being dimensioned according to Table 3, the bagasse moisture content was lowered to 33.0% while the sucrose content dropped to 1.93%, these figures representing considerable additional recovery of material from the mill bagasse. It is also important to note that the bagasse will have increased fuel value by virtue of the reduced moisture content, a significant feature due to the fact that many mills use the bagasse as fuel for operating the plants.

A second run which was conducted using bagasse wit a moisture content of 48.75% and a sucrose content of jacent said main cage inlet and having drive means for rotation thereof to take up cane from said chamber and feed it under relatively high mean mechanical pressure through said main cage, 21 main interrupted-flight screw member extending through said main cage and having means for rotation thereof at a slower speed than said feed screw member, and cooperating means on said main screw and the walls of said main cage adapted to defiber and to compact the cane alternately while the relatively high mechanical pressure is maintained thereon for ex pressing a major quantity of the juice therefrom.

2. Apparatus for removing approximately -85% of the juice from sucrose bearing cellular fibrous material such as sugar cane, comprising the combination of means for reducing the cane to desired lengths, a first elongated expression cage having inlet and outlet openings and a through passage therebetween and having drainage openings in the Walls of said cage intermediate said inlet outlet openings, said inlet opening being positioned to receive the raw cane from said reducing means, means adjacent said cage outlet opening providing a restriction to the flow of cane therethrough, a feed screw extending into said first cage and having means for rotation thereof to force the cane under mechanical pressure past said restricting means, said feed screw and said first cage including means for simultaneously mechanically working said cane during the feeding thereof to express an initial quantity of juice from the cane for discharge through said drainage openings in said first cage, a main expansion cage having an inlet and an outlet and having drainage openings in the walls thereof, means forming an expansion chamber connected to discharge into said main cage inlet and receiving the cane forced through said restricting means from said first cage, means connected to introduce masceration liquid into said chamber for absorption by the cane where the mechanical pressure thereon is relatively relaxed, a feed screw member extending adjacent said main cage inlet and having drive means for rotation thereof to take up cane from said chamber and feed it under relatively high mean mechanical pressure through said main cage, a main interrupted-flight screw member extending through said main cage and having means for rotation thereof to feed the cane through said main cage while retarding the flow thereof with respect to the flow from said feed screw member, and cooperating means on said main screw and the walls of said main cage adapted to defiber and to compact the cane while the relatively high mechanical pressure is maintained thereon for expressing a major quantity of the juice therefrom and for discharging from said main cage a defibered bagasse.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,222 Burgess Mar. 22, 1881 321,006 Chap in June 30, 1885 1,245,950 Neufeldt Nov. 6, 1917 2,149,736 Hiller et a1. Mar. 7, 1939 2,320,765 Upton June 1, 1943 2,335,819 Upton Nov. 30, 1943 2,355,091 McDonald Aug. 8, 1944 2,687,084 Bowman Aug. 24, 1954 2,893,909 Shouvlin et al. July 7, 1959 

1. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AT LEAST 80-85% OF THE JUICE FROM SUCROSE BEARING CELLULAR FIBROUS MATERIAL SUCH AS SUGAR CANE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR REDUCING THE CANE TO DESIRED LENGTHS, A FIRST ELONGATED EXPRESSION CAGE HAVING INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS AND A THROUGH PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN AND DRAINAGE OPENINGS IN THE WALLS OF SAID CAGE, SAID INLET OPENING BEING POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE RAW CANE FROM SAID REDUCING MEANS, MEANS PROVIDING A RESTRICTING ORIFICE AT SAID OUTLET OPENING, AN INTERRUPTED-FLIGHT FEED SCREW EXTENDING INTO SAID FIRST CAGE AND HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREOF TO FORCE THE CANE UNDER MECHANICAL PRESSURE THROUGH SAID ORIFICE TO EXPRESS AN INITIAL QUANTITY OF JUICE FROM THE CANE FOR DISCHARGE THROUGH SAID DRAINAGE OPENINGS IN SAID FIRST CAGE, A MAIN EXPRESSION CAGE HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET AND HAVING DRAINAGE OPENING IN THE WALLS THEREOF, A CLOSED EXPANSION CHAMBER CONNECTING SAID MAIN CAGE INLET TO SAID OUTLET OF SAID FIRST CAGE FOR RECEIVING THE CANE FORCED THROUGH SAID ORIFICE, MEANS CONNECTED TO INTRODUCE MACERATION LIQUID INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR ABSORPTION BY THE CANE WHERE THE MECHANICAL PRESSURE THEREON IS RELATIVELY RELAXED, A FEED SCREW MEMBER EXTENDING ADJACENT SAID MAIN CAGE INLET AND HAVING DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREOF TO TAKE UP CANE FROM SAID CHAMBER AND FEED IT UNDER RELATIVELY HIGH MEAN MECHANICAL PRESSURE THROUGH SAID MAIN CAGE, A MAIN INTERRUPTED-FLIGHT SCREW MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MAIN CAGE AND HAVING MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREOF AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN SAID FEED SCREW MEMBER, AND COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID MAIN SCREW AND THE WALLS OF SAID MAIN CAGE ADAPTED TO DEFIBER AND TO COMPACT THE CANE ALTERNATELY WHILE THE RELATIVELY HIGH MECHANICAL PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED THEREON FOR EXPRESSING A MAJOR QUANTITY OF THE JUICE THEREFROM. 